A hurricane can’t shut down a Waffle House. It also can’t shut down a rivalry.

Despite a loss of power due to Hurricane Helene, the Bob Jones University Bruins defeated the Pensacola Christian College Eagles 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium. The game was played at 4 p.m., three hours earlier than the initially scheduled 7 p.m. start, so it could finish in daylight hours.

“We were just wondering if they would be able to make it up here,” BJU President Josh Crockett said. “Shoutout to PCC as well for making it up here, and we’re thrilled to get to have this game.”

PCC’s Jackson Clarke opened the scoring with a goal from the left side in the 24^th minute, but the BJU defense would stiffen from there, keeping them off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. BJU responded with a goal from Jake Provenzano in the 42^nd minute. Victor Muenapale added a goal in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

Bruins head coach Greg Fulton praised the team’s ability to respond to the Eagles’ early strike. “We want to respond any time we have adversity, and I think they did a good job,” Fulton said before halftime. After the game, he added, “It’s two 45-minute halves, so being up two to one doesn’t mean anything at halftime, it means something at the end of the game.”

At the beginning of the second half, BJU goalkeeper Cameron Braswell picked up a back pass, allowing a free kick for PCC inside the penalty box. Braswell thought the ball had deflected off a PCC player, but the referee saw it as an illegal pickup. Braswell blocked the free kick to maintain the Bruins’ lead.

BJU had some attempts to extend the lead in the second half. Defender Dallas Albert’s penalty kick was knocked away in the 55^th minute, and just a few minutes later, forward Ryan Boldt’s shot was deflected.

In the 65^th minute, defender Anthony Ruiz netted the Bruins’ third goal. After a ball sailed out of bounds, ball boy Gael Mallen quickly gave the new ball to a Bruins player, keeping the pace of play moving, leading to Ruiz’s score.

The Bruins had one more opportunity to score in the second minute of stoppage time, but PCC made a defensive save to keep the Bruins’ lead at two.

“I think it was a good effort from the guys,” Braswell said. “You go down early, and the guys have to find the will to fight back.”

Many of the students who remained on campus attended the game. Despite a modest attendance at the beginning of the game, more Bruins fans trickled in, leading to a crowd of approximately one thousand.

The Bruins’ scheduled game against Lees-McRae College on Tuesday was canceled. Their next game is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 3, when they host Toccoa Falls College.

“Lights would be awesome,” Fulton said.